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[First paragraphs…] Northern giant petrels (
Macronectes halli) have a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Hemisphere, ranging from the pack ice northward to about 55°S, with occasional sightings as far north as 25°S. It breeds from Jul to Feb at several subantarctic islands, including the Prince Edward, Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen, Macquarie, Chatham, Stewart, Auckland, Antipodes, and Campbell groups (Harrison 1983).
Chick-rearing ends in early Mar almost every year (Harrison 1983; Voisin 1989). Northern giant petrels fledge in March (Patterson & Hunter 2000), after which. juvenile
M. halli disperse widely at sea, reaching the coasts of Africa and Australia (Harrison 1983). They typically spend several years at sea before returning to their natal colonies and eventually breeding, but the dispersal and movements at sea of this bird are poorly known (Voisin 1989, 1990). At least some may circle Antarctica, and some venture northwards along the coasts of eastern Australia and southern South America, or to South Africa (Voisin 1990). Sightings have been documented in the Humboldt Current (37°S) in February (Weimerskirch et al. 1985). There have been other sightings farther north on the east coast of South America (Hunter 1984).